ORIGINAL: flywilly
I'd like to see the 2m x 2m restriction eliminated. I think it has constrained design development as everybody wants to build to the 'rules'; so all the airplanes are 2meters long with slight variation on wing span/size. Perhaps a smaller design would be more effective...? Or a larger one. Power is unlimited. I'd love to see somebody win the worlds with a simple model like Prettner did with his Calypso in 1983 (is that a dream or a fantasy?).
Electrics seem like the ideal solution to many current (no pun intended) pattern issues especially throttle linearity. Power failures seem less likely, but still possible and there's much less mess to clean up (unless you have a fire... my personal fear[:'(])
Glow power appears to have an edge when it gets windy and I suspect the 2007 FAI F3A World Champion will be glow powered.
My 2 cents...
-Will B
I disagree.
How many pattern pilots still design their own aircraft? most will go and buy either an ARF or approximation of (i.e. an oxai, it is still technically an ARF) so the package is suited to what the original designer was chasing.
Everyone here will agree that a large plane is better for presentation so the 2m limit is good, but at the same time, this can be messed with, and there is no lower limit, so effectively you could fly with a 5kg 40 sized model.
I'm currently building a ship expressley around the MVVS 160, because I couldn't find anything I liked. It's not 2 x 2 but you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference. By doing this I'm looking at less dead weight (smaller plane) and a better power to weight ratio than if I'd stuck with a 2x2.
The chinese have the same word for problem as they do for opportunity...
